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Bubba, the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale
Bubba is bossed around the family ranch by his wicked step-daddy and his nasty stepbrothers, Dwayne and Milton. Bubba never complains, though. He's a real cowboy - tough as leather (and cute as a cow's ear).
When Miz Lurleen, the purtiest rancher in Texas, decides to throw a ball to find herself a real feller, Bubba has to stay at home. "You smell more like the cattle than the cattle do," laugh Dwayne and Milton. But with the help of Bubba's fairy godcow, and a little Texas magic, Miz Lurleen finds the cowboy prince she's always dreamed of.
With its western brand of language and humor, this Texas retelling of the Cinderella story will really rope in readers.
When Miz Lurleen, the purtiest rancher in Texas, decides to throw a ball to find herself a real feller, Bubba has to stay at home. "You smell more like the cattle than the cattle do," laugh Dwayne and Milton. But with the help of Bubba's fairy godcow, and a little Texas magic, Miz Lurleen finds the cowboy prince she's always dreamed of.
With its western brand of language and humor, this Texas retelling of the Cinderella story will really rope in readers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1997
About the author
Helen Ketteman
45 books77 followersauthor and mother of two grown sons. Texas, where she lived for 9 years, is one of her favorite places and several of her books are set there. She, her husband, and their two cats currently live in Sanibel Island, Florida--where plenty of armadillos live, too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
July 20, 2013
I challenge you to read this without a bad hillbilly western type accent. I even started out in a bad mood, trying not to do the accent, but after the first paragraph I was dun fur.
We really enjoyed this one. Having met my husband in a country line dancing bar, I had immense fun with my hillbilly type accent while I interjected little tidbits of the similarities between Bubba and my children's father. Dad rolled his eyes and made little comments back from the other room, which caused my 5 yr old and I to laugh constantly. My preschoolers giggled at my pathetic attempt at an accent. Here's another tale by Ketteman that's a spin off of the fairy tale, Cinderella. Bubba is a ranch hand that works himself to the bone while his father and two brothers are mean to him. The fun, red neck type slang that appears throughout the book is enough to engage any adult, which made this a great family read. I highly recommend it. It was as cute as a cow's ear.
We really enjoyed this one. Having met my husband in a country line dancing bar, I had immense fun with my hillbilly type accent while I interjected little tidbits of the similarities between Bubba and my children's father. Dad rolled his eyes and made little comments back from the other room, which caused my 5 yr old and I to laugh constantly. My preschoolers giggled at my pathetic attempt at an accent. Here's another tale by Ketteman that's a spin off of the fairy tale, Cinderella. Bubba is a ranch hand that works himself to the bone while his father and two brothers are mean to him. The fun, red neck type slang that appears throughout the book is enough to engage any adult, which made this a great family read. I highly recommend it. It was as cute as a cow's ear.
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July 15, 2013My children loved having this book read to them. The readings using my best Fred Ward, Slim Pickens and Robert Duval immitations went over very well with lots of giggles and laughter.
It's not a new story, but I love the twist they put on the old Cinderealla Fairy Tale. The characters are funny, and son and daughter alike loved it.
Four and a half stars from me (probably 5 from my daughter and 4 from my son. It's an average)
If you can't do a good Slim Pickens, maybe a good "Jerry Clower?"
It's not a new story, but I love the twist they put on the old Cinderealla Fairy Tale. The characters are funny, and son and daughter alike loved it.
Four and a half stars from me (probably 5 from my daughter and 4 from my son. It's an average)
If you can't do a good Slim Pickens, maybe a good "Jerry Clower?"
October 11, 2017
Terrific Cinderella reversal. I especially love the cowpoke humor.
September 20, 2011
Bubba, The Cowboy Prince is your classic "Cinderella Story," but... Not. This retelling of that classic is surprising, creative, funny, and touching.
My nephew heard "Cowboy" in the title and was all over that. Then he heard "Prince" in the title, and immediately he did not want anything to do with this story. But Bubba is such a charming character, and the pictures are so lovely and engaging, that by the end of the story he was asking me to read the tale again! He even said, "That book is really good!"
Like every girl, my niece knows Cinderella, so she figured out right away that this was a Cinderella story. She thought that the author's creativity and "spin" on this story was just great! This one was a lot of fun for both kids, regardless of their gender, and I really enjoyed it, too! We'll be looking for more of Helen Ketteman's books!
My nephew heard "Cowboy" in the title and was all over that. Then he heard "Prince" in the title, and immediately he did not want anything to do with this story. But Bubba is such a charming character, and the pictures are so lovely and engaging, that by the end of the story he was asking me to read the tale again! He even said, "That book is really good!"
Like every girl, my niece knows Cinderella, so she figured out right away that this was a Cinderella story. She thought that the author's creativity and "spin" on this story was just great! This one was a lot of fun for both kids, regardless of their gender, and I really enjoyed it, too! We'll be looking for more of Helen Ketteman's books!
January 5, 2012
Bubba is an honest-to-goodness cowboy who lives with his evil step daddy and step brothers. When the lovely Miz Lurlene decides she needs a man in her life, the step brothers enlist Bubba's aid in getting gussied up for her shindig. Unfortunately, there's no time for Bubba to clean up and he steels himself for a disappointing evening. And then his fairy godcow appears and makes him resplendent in crisp jeans and a white jacket and sends galloping toward the ball on a cow-turned-stallion. He steals Lurlene's heart, but has to make a hasty retreat when midnight returns to him his shabby (and pungent) appearance. Lurlene tracks him down with the aid of his smelly boot and they live happily ever after.
A cowboy take on the Cinderella story, with a male Cinderella. Fairy godcow = awesome. The evil step daddy and brothers aren't so awful, and Bubba is a pretty capable young man (he knows his cowboy stuff). All in good fun.
A cowboy take on the Cinderella story, with a male Cinderella. Fairy godcow = awesome. The evil step daddy and brothers aren't so awful, and Bubba is a pretty capable young man (he knows his cowboy stuff). All in good fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2015
'Bubba, The Cowboy Prince' is an adorable story about a cowboy named Bubba who works on a ranch with his evil stepdaddy and stepbrothers and is treated terribly. The cowboys have a chance to meet a beautiful cowgirl named Miz Lurleen, who is looking to marry a handsome cowboy. Bubba is left behind but meets his fairy godcow who cleans him up for the ball. As you read this book you can't help but read it in a country accent. It is a great version to the classic Cinderella story and could be used for comparing texts in a classroom setting. Teachers could also take some of the sayings in the story to study their meanings and discuss some of the southern sayings that they hear or use.
This book wow'd me because of the creative writing style and twist on a classic story. The illustrations were adorable and it was a very fun book to read.
This book wow'd me because of the creative writing style and twist on a classic story. The illustrations were adorable and it was a very fun book to read.
February 10, 2010
This picture book is a unique boy version of the traditional Cinderella story. It is set in Texas and the fairy godmother was a fairy godcow. Miz Lurleen is looking for a feller so she decides to throw a ball. Bubba can't go to the ball because he is too busy taking care of his father and brothers. Miz Lurleen finds her true love by finding the feller who fits the boot. This is a great story to read to young children and would be an excellent addition to a Cinderella unit or collection.
March 18, 2015
My students and i loved this version!!
February 14, 2017
Summary: Bubba, The Cowboy Prince is a classic Cinderella story with a big Texas twist. A ranch hand named Bubba, is misused by his stepdaddy and two step brothers Dwayne and Milton. The wicked stepdaddy makes Bubba do all the work while the two step brothers torment him. While Bubba is working at the ranch, down the road lived a beautiful gal named Miz Lurleen. Miz Lurleen wanted a companion so, she decided to throw a ball and invite all the eligible ranchers. Before going to the ball, the wicked stepdaddy, Dwayne, and Milton made Bubba do all the work to make sure they looked good for Miz Lurleen. Yet, even after all the work Bubba did, his step family did not allow him to go to the ball. Bubba was very disappointed because he wanted to go to the ball and dance with Miz Lurleen. While he was in the cow pasture, doing some chores, something spectacular happened. Bubba's fairy godcow appeared to help Bubba go to the ball. With the magic from his fairy godcow, Bubba could go to the ball and dance with Miz Lurleen, but when the clock struck midnight the magic vanished. Bubba was so embarrassed that he ran away so fast his boot fell off his foot. The next day Miz Lurleen went from ranch to ranch to find her missing cowboy. After a long day of searching, Miz Lurleen found Bubba and they lived happily ever after.
Theme: The ultimate theme of the Cinderella story is to be kind, but this story has a different theme. The theme of this book is that it is not always a girl who is the damsel in distress and gender stereotypes can be broken.
Personal Response: I absolutely loved reading this book as fairy tale fan and a Texan. I thought the twist on the classic story was fresh and new because I have never heard of or seen anything like this book. When I read this book, to the kids I babysit, they could not get enough of the "funny way I talked." The book not only breaks gender stereotypes in a way that every reader can enjoy, but also introduces children to Texan culture.
Recommendation: Bubba, The Cowboy Prince is a new twist on the classic Cinderella story that breaks gender stereotypes. The book is very enjoyable and is sure to make any adult or child smile. However, I do not recommend having young children read the book by themselves. The book is filled with southern slang which is hard for most children to understand.
Theme: The ultimate theme of the Cinderella story is to be kind, but this story has a different theme. The theme of this book is that it is not always a girl who is the damsel in distress and gender stereotypes can be broken.
Personal Response: I absolutely loved reading this book as fairy tale fan and a Texan. I thought the twist on the classic story was fresh and new because I have never heard of or seen anything like this book. When I read this book, to the kids I babysit, they could not get enough of the "funny way I talked." The book not only breaks gender stereotypes in a way that every reader can enjoy, but also introduces children to Texan culture.
Recommendation: Bubba, The Cowboy Prince is a new twist on the classic Cinderella story that breaks gender stereotypes. The book is very enjoyable and is sure to make any adult or child smile. However, I do not recommend having young children read the book by themselves. The book is filled with southern slang which is hard for most children to understand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2020
Bubba, the Cowboy Prince is a story about a cowboy named Bubba who works on a ranch with his evil stepdad and 2 stepbrothers. They all treat Bubba badly and when a neighbor Miss Lurleen is throwing a ball to find a man to marry, they leave Bubba behind. Bubba then meets his fairy god cow who freshens him up, and he has until midnight to dance with miss Lurleen at the ball before he returns to his normal clothes. At midnight, Bubba runs home, leaving behind a cowboy boot with Miss Lurleen uses to find the man she danced with and at the end of the story Miss Lurleen and Bubba ride off into the sunset.
The illustrations in this story really stick to the western/country theme of the story. They help establish the setting of the story. Readers can see that it is happening on a ranch, with the animals and desert like environment. There are a lot of browns and tans to represent a farm. The pictures also help show each step of the plot, to help readers visualize what is happening.
This book is something I would recommend, especially to try to teach traditional stories to boys. This twist on cinderella would really interest boys who see a cowboy instead of a princess. The grade level for this book is probably be from 1st to third grade.
The illustrations in this story really stick to the western/country theme of the story. They help establish the setting of the story. Readers can see that it is happening on a ranch, with the animals and desert like environment. There are a lot of browns and tans to represent a farm. The pictures also help show each step of the plot, to help readers visualize what is happening.
This book is something I would recommend, especially to try to teach traditional stories to boys. This twist on cinderella would really interest boys who see a cowboy instead of a princess. The grade level for this book is probably be from 1st to third grade.
July 6, 2020
First, a review of western-themed children's picture books in general: I must say that I have written my own western-themed children's book. It turned-out to be quite a challenge as the mythology of the west is fraught with bad things like guns, killing, the horrific treatment of Native Americans and animals. What a challenge to take on when writing a children's picture book! I certainly can't tackle the entirety of this topic in a review of a book, but I want to put it out there as this issue affects my reviews.
Bubba, The Cowboy Prince -- A Fractured Texas Tale is a unique take on Cinderella. It is a detailed non-fiction book and is best to read it to a child. In this story, however, it is Miz Lurleen who is looking for companionship. Bubba is a cowboy with two lazy step-brothers. The story follows Bubba as a magical cow appears and grants his wish to go to the ball. There is humor in the book with the exaggerated features of cowboys and animals. Happy, well treated animals are pictured throughout and proves that the bucking bronco and spurs on boots are unnecessary for the story.
Bubba, The Cowboy Prince -- A Fractured Texas Tale is a unique take on Cinderella. It is a detailed non-fiction book and is best to read it to a child. In this story, however, it is Miz Lurleen who is looking for companionship. Bubba is a cowboy with two lazy step-brothers. The story follows Bubba as a magical cow appears and grants his wish to go to the ball. There is humor in the book with the exaggerated features of cowboys and animals. Happy, well treated animals are pictured throughout and proves that the bucking bronco and spurs on boots are unnecessary for the story.
September 26, 2025
I loved this book! Bubba the Cowboy Price is a western fairytale, closely mirroring the story of Cinderella. Bubba is a ranch boy who is abused by his wicked step-dad and two nasty step-brothers. On the night of the hoedown ball thrown by the richest and prettiest rancher, Miz Lurleen, Bubba's fairy godcow magically dresses him in cowboy clothes and turns a steer into a white stallion so he can attend. Bubba dances with Miz Lurleen but flees at midnight, losing a boot, and is found by Miz Lurleen when she searches the ranches for the boot's owner. They get married and live happily ever after on the ranch together. This book is a great read-aloud when teaching about different types of fairytales and would be useful in comparing storyline plots with other books similar to Cinderella.
November 27, 2017
I would recommend this book for the primary grades, second through third grade. I would categorize it as traditional fantasy.
This book was very strange. It is a funny twist on the traditional Cinderella story. As an adult, who is very familiar with Cinderella, I found it very predictable. If a student is unfamiliar with the fairytale, I'm not sure they would be able to hypothesize what would happen. I think it is a fun book to have in the classroom. It ties in different cultures as well as different genders. It's pretty silly, but I think students would enjoy reading it.
This book was very strange. It is a funny twist on the traditional Cinderella story. As an adult, who is very familiar with Cinderella, I found it very predictable. If a student is unfamiliar with the fairytale, I'm not sure they would be able to hypothesize what would happen. I think it is a fun book to have in the classroom. It ties in different cultures as well as different genders. It's pretty silly, but I think students would enjoy reading it.
March 23, 2020
What a kick in the pants is this retelling of the Cinderella story! If you read it out loud you, your accent would get more and more thick as you went along and that is half the fun! I enjoyed having the Cinderella story told with a man as the protagonist. I loved having a woman make the decision to go out and find her a man and throwing her own Texas ball. If you are going to do a retelling of the Cinderella story with a male playing that main role, doing it cowboy style is the way to go!
April 22, 2022
Humor/Fiction
3rd-4th grade
This is a unique spin on the traditional "Cinderella" story. It is the same concept of Cinderella but instead the main character is a young cowboy. I really like the way the author adapted the traditional story into a different setting and concept. I think this book is very engaging and is a nice spin-off of the traditional fairy tale.
3rd-4th grade
This is a unique spin on the traditional "Cinderella" story. It is the same concept of Cinderella but instead the main character is a young cowboy. I really like the way the author adapted the traditional story into a different setting and concept. I think this book is very engaging and is a nice spin-off of the traditional fairy tale.
March 13, 2018
This funny story would be a favorite for students. It could be used as a mentor text for writing acknowledgements or dialogue. It also has a male character in the position of Cinderella so the boys in the class might be able to relate to the story in a way they might not have thought of before.
April 2, 2020
A fun twist on the traditional Cinderella story. I loved that the 'princess' falls for the cowboy (Cinderella figure) when he is his normal cowboy self not when he is the version made up by the fairy godmother.
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November 30, 2020This is a great alternative to a Cinderella story, the genders have been switched, giving the reader a look into a male Cinderella and the setting is in the west. The illustrations give the reader something to associate with and keep the reader engaged.
August 11, 2021
The kids and I enjoyed reading this out loud. Between the country slang, the funny twists on the classic Cinderella story, and the lively illustrations, it was a fun experience. The writing forces you to adopt a Southern accent.
December 21, 2021
Bubba, the Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman.
This book was real fun and I enjoyed it a lot. My daughter says its even better with Texas accent. Anyone would enjoy this fractured Texas Tale, so read it for sure.
This book was real fun and I enjoyed it a lot. My daughter says its even better with Texas accent. Anyone would enjoy this fractured Texas Tale, so read it for sure.
March 25, 2023
Bubba lives on a ranch with his evil stepdaddy and two mean stepbrothers, but one day the local belle hosts a hoedown and invites every eligible cowpoke. This Cinderella retelling is brimming with cowboy talk and silly moments.
November 23, 2023
Date: 10/16/23
Genre: Traditional Fantasy
Level: K-4th
Review: I thought this story was funny and a great twist on the Cinderella story. Over the years, I've found the Cinderella story boring because it's repetitive and "old-school." I love to hear new twists and ways people change the Cinderella story to fit their own culture or life. I'm excited to read this book to my future class!
Genre: Traditional Fantasy
Level: K-4th
Review: I thought this story was funny and a great twist on the Cinderella story. Over the years, I've found the Cinderella story boring because it's repetitive and "old-school." I love to hear new twists and ways people change the Cinderella story to fit their own culture or life. I'm excited to read this book to my future class!
November 21, 2017
Setting change, gender swap.
March 13, 2018
This is a cool way to put a spin on the Disney classic, Cinderella, and allows boys in your class to potentially relate to.
March 13, 2018
Bubba is a twist on the classic tale Cinderella. It is more relatable for male students but still enjoyable for all readers.
March 14, 2018
This book can be used in so many different ways. It is a great mentor text for fantasy writing.
September 22, 2018
Very cute southern re-tellkng of Cinderella
April 26, 2019
Love me a good fractured fairy tale! Cinderella Texas style 😊
July 3, 2019
This one was especially fun read in a Texan accent. My kids laughed hard.
December 21, 2019
Ok this was a twist on Cinderella I hadn't read before. It was so funny, I was cracking up in the back office and coworkers thought I lost my mind. It was great!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews